Service earns award

David Kershaw, owner and operator of Martinborough retail business Pain and Kershaw says he was surprised by news of his nomination on the Queen's Birthday honours list.

"It's a little bit uncomfortable because I've been very much a Martinborough man all my life."

He has been made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work for services to business and the community - which he has been doing for over 40 years.

Mr Kershaw has been active in the small town community through volunteering, supporting and sponsoring many local services, such as the Martinborough Volunteer Fire Brigade and the St John Ambulance.

He said while being recognised for his work was nice, his wife, Ineke, also deserved credit.

"It's something that we have achieved together. I couldn't have done it without her."

While running Pain and Kershaw, one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the country, he has also organised annual blood donation drives and helped establish ambulance services.

The blood donation drive came about in 2007 because he wanted to give something back for the many blood transfusions his wife received, after she was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2004.

He is a member of the Martinborough Lions Club and has been a volunteer for the Martinborough Community Patrol for 17 years.

He was a founding board member of Toast Martinborough and founding partner of Palliser Estate Vineyard.

He was also a councillor in the eighties.

"It's been a great ride for the last 40 years," he said.

Mr Kershaw said he volunteered because he enjoyed supporting people and local businesses. "It's part and parcel of living in a small town."

He said small towns, like Martinborough, needed support from their residents to thrive.

"If everyone puts a bit into the town, it survives," he said.

Mr Kershaw said he originally wanted to work in agriculture and didn't plan to be involved in the family business. But the career choice had worked out well for him - Pain and Kershaw will turn 140 years old this year.

He has four children and his son, Conor, has been following in his footsteps by managing the company's Mitre10 store.

To celebrate his MNZM membership he plans to do something small.

"I'll be keeping a low profile; something with the family; might go away for a few days."